aiptasia problem

MSherman · 04/29/2007, 07:19 AM

I just elimitated two small aiptasia in my 75 gal.tank that I have inherted and have had for about 9 months now. I used boiling vinegar. I started looking for others and found a forest of them in my overflow and don't know how to get them out.
I can't get to them in there with a syringe of vinegar because it is too tight in there with the pipe to the sump and the return plumbing to the tank. I was thinking fo buying a peppermint shrimp but if I do I would be sacraficing him to 'the tank' because I don't think I would ever be able to get him out.
Any ideas?

frederickk · 04/29/2007, 08:20 AM

This is very touchy as you don't have much space in there. As well my first thought was a peppermint shrimp but as you said you'll have to sacrificed him.

That said it doesn't mean that the pepper will stay there and not going to do the ride down the pipes.

seapug · 04/29/2007, 09:48 AM

if you can keep them isolated in the overflow I'd just leave them there and kill off any that end up in the display. They will actually perform some natural filtration where they are.

MSherman · 04/29/2007, 10:41 AM

I really don' t know how long they have been in the overfow. Is the only way they would make it into the display would be by breaking off and flowing through the sump and into the display. If I keep a mechanical fliter in the sump they shouldin't get through. Is this correct?
Another thought I had was to put some light blocking material (like aluminum foil) over the top of the overflow and blocking all light. Would this kill them?

jgwhite · 04/29/2007, 12:27 PM

One thing that you can probably do that I had alot of luck with is mixing Kalkwasser and water to make a paste. Take some of that paste in a syringe and drop it by their mouths for them to eat. I don't know about how much space you have but it definetely takes less space than injecting them. Hope this helps.

D-Rod · 04/29/2007, 12:30 PM

I would keep them the overflow or sump and use them as filtration and get rid of them in the main tank.

Frick-n-Frags · 04/29/2007, 01:01 PM

I would get rid of them from my entire system.

Toddrtrex · 04/29/2007, 01:16 PM

I actually have a pep shrimp in the overflow of my 58g for that exact reason. USED to have some aiptasia in there -- don't anymore. It ges enough food from whatever get pulled into here when I feed the fish. I've had it in there for over a year now.

KPOLYP · 04/30/2007, 03:13 AM

for real?

frederickk · 04/30/2007, 07:53 AM

How did he do?

Toddrtrex · 04/30/2007, 08:31 AM

If you guys are asking me about my pep shrimp in my overflow - he did great in eating all the aiptasia that I had in my overflow. (Reef Ready tank) I can see it moving around the overflow and picking up any food that gets pulled in there. I should add that I have a Durso standpipe in there, but I added an extra tube to it -- put a sponge on it that I clean out weekly -- so it can't get pulled into my sump.

04/29/2007, 07:19 AM	#1
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	aiptasia problem I just elimitated two small aiptasia in my 75 gal.tank that I have inherted and have had for about 9 months now. I used boiling vinegar. I started looking for others and found a forest of them in my overflow and don't know how to get them out. I can't get to them in there with a syringe of vinegar because it is too tight in there with the pipe to the sump and the return plumbing to the tank. I was thinking fo buying a peppermint shrimp but if I do I would be sacraficing him to 'the tank' because I don't think I would ever be able to get him out. Any ideas?

04/29/2007, 09:48 AM	#3
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	if you can keep them isolated in the overflow I'd just leave them there and kill off any that end up in the display. They will actually perform some natural filtration where they are. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/29/2007, 12:30 PM	#6
D-Rod Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Paso Robles, Ca Posts: 1,020	I would keep them the overflow or sump and use them as filtration and get rid of them in the main tank. __________________ The Vino Man - I Trade With Wine...Just Ask! Current Tank Info: Small Tank, Lights, Fish; Tangs a whole bunch, 4 False Perculas, 6 rose anemones Mixed Reef.

04/29/2007, 01:01 PM	#7
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	I would get rid of them from my entire system. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

04/29/2007, 01:16 PM	#8
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I actually have a pep shrimp in the overflow of my 58g for that exact reason. USED to have some aiptasia in there -- don't anymore. It ges enough food from whatever get pulled into here when I feed the fish. I've had it in there for over a year now. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

04/29/2007, 08:20 AM	#2
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	This is very touchy as you don't have much space in there. As well my first thought was a peppermint shrimp but as you said you'll have to sacrificed him. That said it doesn't mean that the pepper will stay there and not going to do the ride down the pipes.

04/29/2007, 10:41 AM	#4
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	I really don' t know how long they have been in the overfow. Is the only way they would make it into the display would be by breaking off and flowing through the sump and into the display. If I keep a mechanical fliter in the sump they shouldin't get through. Is this correct? Another thought I had was to put some light blocking material (like aluminum foil) over the top of the overflow and blocking all light. Would this kill them?

04/29/2007, 12:27 PM	#5
jgwhite Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 62	One thing that you can probably do that I had alot of luck with is mixing Kalkwasser and water to make a paste. Take some of that paste in a syringe and drop it by their mouths for them to eat. I don't know about how much space you have but it definetely takes less space than injecting them. Hope this helps.

04/30/2007, 03:13 AM	#9
KPOLYP Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: dallas tx Posts: 101	for real? __________________ dont stop till the break of dawn Current Tank Info: 75 reef 12g nano 110 in wall 30 g planted koi pond

04/30/2007, 07:53 AM	#10
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	How did he do?

04/30/2007, 08:31 AM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	If you guys are asking me about my pep shrimp in my overflow - he did great in eating all the aiptasia that I had in my overflow. (Reef Ready tank) I can see it moving around the overflow and picking up any food that gets pulled in there. I should add that I have a Durso standpipe in there, but I added an extra tube to it -- put a sponge on it that I clean out weekly -- so it can't get pulled into my sump. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef